We Expect More Out of Adults 618.5
Although 11-year-old Mark wasn’t much of an athlete, his dad urged him to play youth baseball. Mark liked to play, but he was hurt by the remarks of teammates and spectators whenever he struck out or dropped a ball.
Just before the fourth game of the season, he told his dad he didn’t want to go. “I’m no good,” he said, “and everyone knows it.”
His father urged him to stick with it. “Just do your best,” he said. “That’s all anyone can ask. Your best is good enough.”
Mark struck out his first two times at bat, and each time looked over to his father, who struggled to look positive. In his last at-bat, Mark hit the ball solidly, the first time all season. It was a hard grounder to third, and the play at first was close.
When the umpire called Mark out, his father went wild. “Kill the ump!” he yelled. “Are you blind or just stupid? If you can’t do the job, stay off the field!”
On the way home, Mark broke a long silence, “Dad, you said all anyone can ask for is to do his best.”
“That’s right, Son," his father assured him. “You did your best, and I’m proud of you. But that jerk of an umpire robbed you with a bad call.”
“I wasn’t talking about me,” Mark replied. “I was talking about Billy’s dad. He was the umpire. He was doing his best, too, but you got mad at him.”
His father was taken aback, but he said, “Yeah, but he’s an adult. We should expect more out of adults.”
Mark looked his dad in the eye. “That’s what I thought, too. By the way, I was out.”
Despite his father’s good intentions, he didn’t set a good example. We should indeed expect more from adults – more fairness and respect, more sportsmanship and self-restraint. If your kids play sports, be a model, not a problem.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
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Comments
AMEN!
As a coach, I do not allow my team's parents to yell at the players or officials and have had parents removed from the stands during games for disruptive behavior. I also do not allow parents to berate their own kids during practices and have banned parents from practices for doing so. Fans should be able to cheer, boo and even criticize calls, just as parents should be able to coach their children. But when either turns abusive or unrestrained, someone needs to step in. Like the father said, “We should expect more out of adults.”
Posted by: James | May 15, 2009 9:57 AM
Just a comment on how the players in this story seemed to treat each other. I coach Little League and expect all my players to show a sense of team at all times. They are not allowed to criticize a weaker player on or off the field. They are to offer support, encouragement and respect at all times. We win or lose as a team. I have seen lesser players develop confidence and skill. I have seen friendships arise between kids who would otherwise have nothing to do with each other. I have seen one player defend another against the school bully. You don’t have to be friends, but you do need to work as a team. I have never had a player complain about this once it has been explained. When it comes to sports, children often have a better grip on what is important than their parents do.
Posted by: Kimo | May 15, 2009 2:15 PM
Some years ago I played second base. Second base is where they put you when you are not very good. Anyway, when the kid who played 3rd base left the team, the manager put the kid from right field on 3rd. I asked if the kid knew how to play 3rd base. It was not a nasty comment; I just asked.
The manager said, "Chris, just worry about your own base." It took me many years to understand what he was telling me.
Posted by: ChrisHGraham | May 19, 2009 10:03 PM
Amen & Amen!
I teach elementary school and see the effects of adults who apparently don't know any better. When the adults in our lives (parents, officials, government, sports figures) don't show good character by their words and/or actions, how can we expect our kids to do any better? The days of "Do what I say, not what I do" are over. They ARE doing what you do regardless of what you might say otherwise.
Posted by: Maria Smith | May 20, 2009 3:56 AM
Regarding the Cowboy Code from Gene Autry, Michael says that with a little updating it still works. I would be interested in which of these ten rules he thinks need updating.
Posted by: Bruce Shown | May 21, 2009 5:43 AM